Upon winning titles in South Africa and across the world, coach Pisto Mosimane recognizes a better course for the South African football industry. The Pisto Mosimane Soccer School (PMSS) is just what the football industry needed for it to be more competitive and contribute to society. It is bold and sage of coach Pisto to embark on such a journey which will leave a legacy behind for him and a lesson to society at large.
Coach Pitso Mosimane is a former South African football player who has depicted his talent on domestic and international grass. His talents as a player later turned into a coaching talent which has also served both the domestic and international grass with honour. However, the founding of his soccer school is the beginning of a legacy that will see it way throughout the country. According to coach Pisto, his school is a result of a gap recognized and the enthusiasm to contribute to the development of South African football. The gap is in schools. Across South Africa you know where to go if you want a rugby school or a cricket school, but a proper soccer school is non-existential. Well, PMSS is now that school and it is there to fill the gap.
However, this article doesn’t intend to introduce PMSS or present a biography of Pisto Mosimane. Rather, it intends to inform on the effects of such an initiative and how government can support it.
One of the most critical effects and contributions of PMSS is on the development of the South African football philosophy. PMSS takes children on the ages of 6-13 years old, this ensures the instilling of a football philosophy at a tender age. This would create a class of players who have engaged with the industry and developed sportsmanship at a young age. It further encourages player competitiveness both domestically and internationally, also serving the competitiveness of the football industry at large.
PMSS further tackles a growing issue in the sporting industry, which is racism. With the development of players at a tender age who are racially mixed, it allows no room for racism on the pitch and outside of it. PMSS further tackles a gender discrimination issue in the football industry. The school being both open to boys and girls reduces gender discrimination challenges in the industry for the future and now. Creating a player developing environment for girls gives hopes to young girls who see themselves at the highest levels of football.
Furthermore, it is imperative that this initiative becomes a national school-based initiative adopted by all public and private schools. Government support is crucial to this adoption and development with its role being building a supportive infrastructure in all school and providing basic equipment for players and the coaches to work with. The maintenance of this infrastructure is also imperative, and it would require financial and moral discipline in schools.
To society, PMSS contributes to youth development which has been a fire in the house for the South African government. Recruiting players at a young age gives them a stage and opportunity to showcase their talent and keeps them focused both in school and personal development. Other industries in South African can adopt such practical initiatives for the youth as it increases both experience and capability.
Coach Pisto Mosimane will leave a legacy for his family and team, but it will be a lesson to society. A lesson to take bold action and contribute the little you can for the public benefit. Across industries who complain about lack of skills and capability in South Africa’s youth, this would be a lesson on how exactly to tackle that challenge to contribute to employment and increased standard of living.
Pitso Mosimane is what we call “indoda emadodeni” , he changed so many lives and is still continuing to do so, through him we learnt that once you make it to the top , help others to also rise to the top, he is an inspiration.